A sheriff has cleared a hospital of any blame over the death of a young mother who died weeks after giving birth.

Instead, Sheriff Sir Stephen Young criticised the ''dogmatic'' evidence of an independent expert who insisted the woman's death was the result of a catalogue of blunders by staff at Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Ms Jacqueline Buck, 25, of Glencoe Court, Greenock, suffered a massive heart attack after developing blood clots in her legs. She had been released from Inverclyde Royal Hospital on January 25, 1996, where her son had been delivered by Caesarean section seven days earlier.

However, despite complaining on numerous occasions of severe pains in her legs, Ms Buck collapsed in her home on 14 February, and died in hospital soon after.

Gynaecology expert Professor John Bonnar, who investigated Ms Buck's case, told a fatal accident inquiry at Greenock Sheriff Court last month, that if standard treatments had been given these would have been successful.

Professor Bonnar, 63, said Ms Buck developed infection within hours of the baby's delivery, but was not given anti-biotics until the following day.

Referring to research into the problems suffered by women, following either emergency or planned Caesarean section, Professor Bonnar insisted that Ms Buck should have been given treatment before infection set in.

He added that the woman had been subjected to five internal examinations as staff at Inverclyde Royal Hospital tried to induce birth, which was ten days overdue. ''That merely increases the risk of infection,'' he added.

However, in his 21-page determination, Sir Stephen criticised Professor Bonnar for the ''dogmatic manner'' of his evidence, and said: ''I have little difficulty in rejecting the evidence of Professor Bonnar.

''I regard the staff at Inverclyde Hospital as blameless. The inquiry failed to establish any precautions which might reasonably have been taken.''